the Scriptures of God Is it agreed that these bookes are alone in account of the bookes of the Scripture In the books of the new testament it is agreed that all they and they alone are of that account But in the old testament the Church of Rome holdeth that diuers bookes called Apocrypha are of the same authoritie with the other that haue been named By what reasons may their opinion be ouerthrowen First for that they were not written first in the Hebrew Character which all the books of the old testament are originally written in Rom. 3. Secondly for all the Iewes to whom the oracles of God were committed vnder the old testament did only acknowledge and keepe them Thirdly that these onely were read and expounded in their Synagogues Fourthly that the primitiue churches after the Apostles both Greeke and Latin did only receaue these bookes for the bookes of canonicall Scriptures What noble effects doth the Apostle set forth of the bookes of the Scripture That they are able to make a man wise to saluation through faith in Iesus Christ How is that proued First for that God is the author of them who being for his wisedome able and for his loue to his Church willing to set downe such a rule as may guide them to eternall life hath not failed herein Secondly for that it is profitable to teach all true doctrine and to confute the false to correct al disorder priuate and publique and to informe men in the way of righteousnes Thirdly for that a Minister of the word is thereby made complet and perfect to euery duty of the ministery How doth this last reason hold Most strongly for there being required more of a Minister that must be the eye and mouth of the people themselues if it make him perfect it is much more able to giue them sufficient instruction And seeing the Minister is bound to disclose the whole counsell of God to his people Acts. 20.27 he being thereunto fully furnished out of the treasurie of the word of God it followeth that by him out of the Scriptures they may also be abundantly taught to saluation What other things doe you gather from these causes properties and effects of Scripture First that being able to make vs wise to saluation Math. 23.8 Joh. 5.39 Math. 15.9 we need no vnwritten verities no traditions of men no canons of Councels no sentēces of Fathers much lesse decrees of Popes for to supply any supposed defect of the written word or for to giue vs a more perfect direction in the way of life then is already put downe expresselie in the canonicall scriptures What els draw you from thence Iohn 12.48 Gala. 1.9 From hence and specially from that they are inspired of God I learne that they are the rule the line the squire and light whereby to examine and tryal iudgements and sayings of men yea of Angels and that they can not be iudged or sentenced by any And therefore the Church of Rome hanging the credit and authoritie of the Scriptures on the Churches sentence doth horrible iniury vnto God whiles thereby they make the Churches word of greater credit then the word of God VVhat further doe you learn from hence Matth. 5.18 Psal 19.9 I learne from thence and especially in that it is a rule and a line that it is firme and stable and changeth not And therefore is a rule of steele and not as the Church of Rome imagineth it like a rule of lead which may be bowed euery way at mens pleasures But yet it seemeth dark and hard to be vnderstood and therefore not to be permitted but vnto those that are learned The cleane contrary is taught by the Apostle whē he affirmeth that Timothy was nourished vp in the Scriptures from his infancy For if little children are capable of it by the small vnderstanding they haue and lesse iudgement there is none so grosse which hath the vnderstanding of a man but may profit by it comming in the feare of God and inuocation of his name Hitherto we haue heard of the doctrine of the Scriptures what they are and what are the causes properties and effects of them us being they from whom only all doctrine concerning our saluation must be drawen and deriued What are the parts thereof It is either the doctrine of Works commonly called the Law of of Grace called the promise and sithence the comming of Christ the Gospell GAL. chap. 3. vers 17 18 19 c. to the 25. 17 And this I say that the Lawe which was foure hundred and thirtie yeeres after cannot disanull the couenant that was confirmed afore of God in respect of Christ that it should make the promise of none effect 18 For if the inheritance be of the Law it is no more by the promise but God gaue it vnto Abraham by promise 19 Wherefore then serueth the Law It was added because of the transgressions till the seed came vnto the which the promise was made and it was ordeined by Angels in the hand of a Mediatour THere being two parts of the Scripture before laid downe it followeth to speake of them apart and first of the Law tell me therefore VVhat is the drift of this place It sheweth two wayes wherein happines is recouered the works of the law and faith in the promise of grace that the Law is not that way whereby we can receiue the happines we haue lost How is that shewed For that the promise of grace whereby Abraham was iustified was 430. yeares before the Law and therefore that the Law which commeth after cannot make void the couenant of grace which it should doe if a man were iustified by the law But it may be said that the iustification by workes of the Law doth not make voide the promise of grace when as the matter is so handled as saluation commeth in part by the works of the Law Yes verely it is made voide for if saluation were before the Law was only by grace and now should be by works and grace then the promise of grace only should be made void And therefore the Apostle in the 18. verse doth shew that if it be of the Law it cannot be by the promise of grace Then it should seeme there is no vse of the Law seeing it doth not iustifie vs in all nor in part Not so for it was giuen to shew and discouer sin yea through the corruption of our nature to increase sin so farre is it from taking away sin How is that shewed By the manner of the giuing which was with such terror of thunder lightnings and smoke and fearefull sound of the trumpet as the people could not abide the voyce of God but were faine to desire that they might not heare the voyce of God but that Moses might bee a Mediatour to receiue it at Gods hands and they at his VVhat obserue you from that That the Law is terrible vnto vs by reason of our sinnes
more we ought to haste to humble our selues vnto God sith the blood of Christ is the only sacrifice for sinne Is the guilt of sinne in all men alike Esra 9.6 No for as the sinne increaseth so doth the guilt both in regard of the greatnes and of the number of our sinnes as appeareth out of this text whereas sin is said to bee gone aboue their heads so the guilt to reach vp to the heauens When the sinne is gone and past is not the guilt also gone and past No but when the act of sin is gone the guilt remaineth alwaies as the strong sauour of garlick whē the garlick is eaten or as the marke of the burning when the burning is past What is contrary to the guilt of sinne The testimonie of a good conscience which is perpetuall ioy and comfort yea and a heauen to him that walketh carefully in Gods obedience as the other is a torment of hell ROM chap. 6. vers 23. 23 For the wages of sinne is death but the gift of God is eternall life through Iesus Christ our Lord. SO much of the guilt what is the punishment It is the wages of sin sent for the guilt Is the punishment limited in the word which shall come for sinne It cannot wholly be laid downe Deut. 29.20 28.61 it is so manifold and so diuers and therefore it is said that they shall come written and vnwritten Against what are these punishments addressed Against the whole estate of him that sinneth for whereas executions vpon obligations vnto men are so directed as they can charge either the person alone or his goods and lands alone so as if the Creditor fall vpon the one he freeth the other as if hee fall vpon the person he cannot proceed further then vnto his bodie the execution that goeth out from God for the obligation of sinne is extended to the whole estate of the sinner Can you draw this great number and diuersitie of punishments to certaine heads Yes for they are either in this life or in the life to come What are they in this life They are either in the persons themselues or in the things that belong vnto them What are they in the persons themselues They are either in the whole person bodie and soule ioyntly or in the parts seuerally What are they in the whole ioyntly Matth. 12 33.34.35 A necessitie of sinning but without constraint vntill they be borne againe by the grace of God What are they in the persons seuerally In the soule and in the bodie apart What are the vpon the soule apart Ephe. 4.17.18.19 When God striketh it with an ignorant spirit with want of iudgement to discerne betweene good and bad with forgetfulnes of holy things or hardnesse of heart which although they be for the time least felt yet are they more fearfull and dangerous then those the sense whereof is presently sharpe VVhat are they vpon the body apart Deut. 28. Hunger thirst wearinesse want of sleep all kinde of diseases euen to the itch which few make account of thereby to feele the anger of God and punishment of sinne VVhat are they in the things belonging vnto them Matth. 15.22 7.1.2 Calamities vpon their wiues children families goods and good name Hitherto of the punishments in this life What are they in the life to come Luke 16.22 They are most horrible first in the soule of the wicked 23. which after this life goeth immediatly to hell vntill the day of iudgement Secondly at the day of iudgement the bodie shall bee ioyned to the soule Matth. 10.28 both to be tormented in hell euerlastingly so much also the more as they haue had more freedome from paine of bodie and anguish of soule and losse of outward things in this life Is the punishment of all sinnes alike No for as the guilt increaseth John 19 11. Matth. 11.20.21.22.23.24 so doth the punishment and as the smallest sinne cannot escape Gods hands so as we heap sins he will heap his iudgemēts Hauing heard of the miserable and vnhappie estate of man by his sin guilt and punishment what is the remedie appointed of God for the recouerie of this cursed and damnable estate The word of God especially preached 2. TIM 3. vers 13 14 15 16 17. WHat is the word of God It is the will of God contained in the scriptures of the old and new Testament What is the Scripture It is a doctrine of sauing men written by inspiration Who is the author thereof God alone who inspired the hearts of holy men whom he chose to be his Secretaries to write it Which be those Scriptures The Testament Old and New What is contained in the old In the old Testament are the Law Prophets 1. The Law which are the fiue bookes of Moses Genesis Exodus Leuiticus Numbers Deuteronomie 2. The Prophets which are either in Poesie and the same either Doctrinall only as Salomon Prouerbs Ecclesiastes Canticles Ieremies Lamentations Iob. both doctrinal and foretelling things to come also as Psalmes Prose which are either Historical as Iosuah Iudges Ruth 1. Samuel 2. Samuel 1. Kings 2. Kings Ezra Nehemiah Hester 1. Chronicles 2. Chronicles Doctrinal and foretelling things to come which are Prophets called Greater 4. Esay Ieremy Ezechiel Daniel Smaller 12. Hoseas Ioel. Amos. Abdias Ionas Micheas Nahum Habbacuck Sophonie Aggei Zachary Malachy Hitherto of the bookes of the old testament what are the bookes of the new They are of things reuealed before the writing of them which are either Historicall either of Christ Matthew Marke Luke Iohn His Apostles as the Acts. Doctrinall as the Epistles of Paul to the Romanes 1. Corinthians 2. Corinthians Galatians Ephesians Philippians Colossians 1. Thessalonians 2. Thessalonians 1. Timothy 2. Timothy Titus Philemon Hebrewes Iames. 1. of Peter 2. of Peter 1. of Iohn 2. of Iohn 3. of Iohn Iude. After the writing of them as the Apocalyps What are the proper markes by which these bookes may be discerned from all other First they are perfectlie holy in themselues and by themselues whereas all other writings are prophane further then they draw some holines from them which is neuer such but that their holines is vnperfect Secondly they are perfectly profitable to instruct to saluation in themselues and all other imperfectly profitable thereunto further then they draw from them Thirdly a perfect concord between these writings notwithstanding the diuersity of persons by whom places where and times when and matters whereof they haue written Fourthly the admirable maiesty and force that is in them to incline mens hearts from vice to vertue 1. Cor. 1.17.21.24 2.15 Fiftly that in so great a plainenesse and easines of stile there shineth so great a maiesty 1. Tim. 5.21 Sixtly that there is such simplicity in the writers who neither spare their friends nor themselues Lastly the working of the spirit in the hearts of Gods children to assure them that these are
the ointment wherewith he was anointed The spirit of God Esa 61.1 How many mediators are there One onely How is that shewed By diuers reasons First because there is but one God and therefore but one Mediator 1. Tim. 2. one God and one Mediator betweene God and man Secondly because he onely is fit as he onely that partaketh both the natures of God and man which is necessarie for him that should come betweene both Thirdly that is declared by the types of Moses who alone was in the mountaine of Aaron or the high Priest who onely might enter into the holy place of holy places Fourthly by the similitudes wherewith he is set forth in this text I am the Way I am the Doore Fifthly because hee alone hath found sufficient saluation for all those that come vnto him Heb. 7. and .9 Ioh. 10. Can no man be mediator betweene God and man 1. Sam. 2.25 No verily for Ely saith that a man offending a man may be accorded by the Iudges but if he offend against God there is no man can make his peace How many parts are there of this his mediation Heb. 3.1 4.14 Heb. 5.1 c. Heb. 13.11.12 Heb. 7.1 Two his priesthood and his kingdome What is his Priesthood It is the first part of his Mediation whereby he opening the will of God did also yeeld that obedience whereof dependeth the whole merit of our saluation First in teaching then in doing the rest of the offices of the Priesthood How is he our Prophet Doctor or Apostle In that hee hath opened the whole will of his father How doth that appeare By his owne testimony Ioh. 15.15 I call you no more seruants because the seruant knoweth not what his master doth But I call you friends because all which I haue heard of my father I haue made knowne vnto you Whath learne you from thence That it is a foule errour in them that thinke that our Sauiour Christ deliuered not all things pertaining to the necessary instruction and gouernment of the Church but left them to the traditions and other meere inuentions of men What further That the Ministers of the word should not suppresse in silence the things that are necessarily to bee deliuered And that the people should content themselues with that Christ hath taught reiecting whatsoeuer else the boldnesse of men would put vpon them Did his office of Doctorship then first begin when he came into the world No but when he opened first his fathers will vnto vs by the ministery of his seruants the Prophets which the holy Ghost calleth the doctrine of the beginning of Christ Heb. 6.1 although it were diuers hundred yeers before his conception and after his owne time hee opened the same doctrine more plainely and fully by the Apostles and Euangelists VVhat difference is there betweene the teaching of Christ and of the Prophets and Ministers sent of him First Mat. 7.28.29 Mark 1.22 Mat. 5.22.28.32.34.44 that Christ taught with another authority then euer did any other Minister before or after him Secondly that by vertue of his propheticall office hee did not onely bring an outward sound vnto the eare but wrought as hee did before his comming and as he doth now by the Ministery of his word an alteration in the mind so far as to the clearing of the vnderstanding What haue we to gather that Christ taught and teacheth by the Prophets Apostles and Euangelists First in what estimation wee ought to haue the bookes of the old testament sith the same spirit spake then that speaketh now and the same Christ Secondly wee must carrie our selues in the hearing of the word of God not to harden our hearts What effect hath the carelesse and fruitlesse hearing of Gods word It hardneth mē to further iudgemēt for it is a two edged sword to strike to life or to death it is either the sauor of life to life of the sauor of death to death How doth hee aggrauate the refusall of this office of our Sauiour against the Israelites First by the time of 40. yeeres secondly by the place the wildernesse and by the multitude of his benefits What force hath the office of his prophecie in vs Wee are in some sort partakers of it by the knowledge of his will whereby to be able to exhort one another priuatly to good things and to withdraw one another from euill as occasion serueth HEB. 7. vers 13. c. to the end 13 For he of whom these things are spoken pertaineth vnto another tribe whereof no man serued at the Altar HItherto of that part of Priesthood which standeth in teaching which is also called his propheticall Office What is the summe of this text The declaration of the person office of Christs Priesthood being compared with the Priesthood of Aaron What are the parts of this text Two to wit what manner a one he ought to bee that hath this office and how he executeth it Wherein standeth the manner of him that shall haue this office Partly without him and partly in himselfe Without him as that hee was of the tribe of Iudah this of the tribe of Leui. Secondly that the Priests of Leui were appointed by the Law of the fleshly Commandement where Christ was appointed by the Law of the power of life Thirdly in that he was appointed of his father by an oath for euer to bee a priest after the order of Melchizedeck What benefit ariseth to vs in that this was confirmed with an oth It assureth vs of all the parts of his Priesthood to be performed vnto vs and that he paid the ransome for our sinnes Was not the word of God sufficient for the performance of this promise without the binding of it with an oth Yes doubtlesse but the Lord in this promise hauing to deale with man and willing more abundantly to shew vnto the heires of promise the stablenesse of his counsell bound himselfe by an oath Whereby is the perpetuitie thereof confirmed In that it did not proceed by succession as from Aaron to Eleazer from Eleazer to Phinees and so by descent but is euerlasting alwaies abiding in him which is another difference of their priestly Office What profit commeth to vs by the perpetuitie of his Priesthood That he continually maketh intercession for vs to God and of himselfe alone is able to saue vs comming to the father through him So much of the qualitie of him that is to be Priest which is without him What is that part which is within him First that in himselfe he is holy Secondly to others harmelesse and innocent Thirdly vndefiled of others or of any thing and to speake in a word he is separated from sinners In al which he differeth from that of Aaron for they are neither holy in themselues nor innocent neither vndefiled but polluting and being polluted by others What is the fruit we gather of this his holinesse innocencie and vndefilednesse That he being holy